I watch Walt's face while I'm on the phone. He's staring at something behind me but when I turn around to see what has his attention there's nothing there. He'd been avoiding eye contact with me ever since I asked him where he was headed with the rifle but when I turn back to him he's looking directly at me. His eyes are so intense it takes my breath away. I try to listen to what Branch is saying but he's talking too quickly and the signal keeps breaking up. I can understand enough to know that I need to do whatever I can to keep Walt from going to find Nighthorse, at least not until we can get all of this straightened out. Branch finishes what he needs to say. "Okay, stay put, I'll be right there." I hang up the phone.

I take a breath before I say anything. I can tell by the deeply concerned look on Walt's face that I need to speak carefully. Think fast, Vic. I pull my eyes back down. I cannot look him in the eye and lie.

"That was Cady. Malachi and Darius are up at the Red Pony causing trouble at Henry's party. I'm going to head over there and take care of it."

It was a calculated risk. Would he take the bait?

"What kind of trouble."

"She didn't say and it was hard to hear her due to all the noise in the background. Don't worry about it, whatever it is I can handle it."

"No."

"No?"

"I'll go with you."

"Walt, I don't need you to go with me. I'll be fine."

He reaches out and takes my arm. "I'll go with you." Time stops for just a moment as our eyes lock. I can't do this right now. "Okay. If you're going then we had better get."

I let Walt take off first and I pull out after I hear him hit his siren. I stay about a half a mile behind him, hoping he won't notice when I turn off the road. If he does notice, I have to trust that he'll continue on to the Red Pony without me. I call Henry on the way and give him the abridged version of what's going on, "Do whatever you have to Henry, just keep him there with you and let me know when he gets there." After I hit the left towards town it took all of 5 seconds before the radio crackled to life. Static "Vic, where are you going? The Red Pony's this direction." I don't respond thinking maybe I can ignore him. Static "Vic?" I reluctantly pick up the radio, "I, uh, need to get gas. Didn't realize I was almost out. I'll meet you there." Okay, I had lied to him once and didn't want to again especially so quickly. I had every intention of going to the Red Pony and could even buy fuel on the way. But first I need to get to Branch. He must have accepted my excuse because I didn't hear from him again on my way into town.

I slide into a parking spot at Durant Memorial and force myself to walk calmly inside. No point in drawing any more attention to myself than I already have. The text alert on my phone sounds. It's Henry, short and to the point. "He is here." The clock is ticking now. I'm not sure how long Henry will be able to keep Walt from taking off once he realizes that I lied to him. I've got to find Branch. I bypass the waiting room and had straight to the nurses station at the ER. "Connally?" Luckily I'm still wearing my uniform so I don't have to answer any questions about my relationship to the patient. I am quickly ushered back to an exam room at the back.

Branch is standing right outside the door. "Vic, thanks so much for coming. I didn't know who else to call. It's not like I'm in the position to be arresting anybody right now and I didn't think Walt should find out what he did like this."

"Where is he?"

Branch gestures toward the room, "They're stitching him up in there. He's got a nasty gash and a mild concussion from where he hit his head on a rock but it doesn't look like they're going to admit him."

"Are you okay?" She gestures to the bandage on his arm.

"I'm fine. He grazed my arm when he got his shot off. I'm lucky I was able to knock him off balance or it could have been a lot worse. I'm not sure I could have survived another abdominal wound so soon after my last one." He glances down at the bandage, "Seems Nighthorse was right, I guess maybe I am a lot more like Walt that I realized."

"That's not necessarily a bad thing Branch."

He looks toward the room where they are treating his father, "It sure as hell is to him."

I try to comfort Branch by patting him on his uninjured arm but it feels pretty awkward. We obviously still have a long way to go but I can see a clarity in his eyes that has been missing for a long time. "You want to wait here while I go arrest the bastard or are you coming with me?"